I've NEVER understood side handles as a passenger grab rail?
Get on the back of a bike, and you'll understand when after 2 minutes you are scared shitless with muscles you never knew you had whilst headbutting the rider!
As i'm always the rider i threaten my passengers "Headbutt my Arai lid and we have a problem that MAY for some unknown reason make you fall off!"
They tend to learn really quickly.........